Many of you will use December 31 as a night celebrate the coming year and reflect on the 365 days of 2015 with house parties, bar hopping or perhaps Netflix binging with your four-legged friends in the comfort of your own home, as I likely will be.

Whether celebrating at a house party with friends and family, or out at an event, consider taking a few precautions to ensure that everyone has a great time, and your pets are also safe.

Loud noises can scare pets. If you're celebrating at home, make sure you keep them in a safe place so they won't run away in a panic upon hearing the pop of a champagne bottle or exploding fireworks.

If you do plan to head out for the night and if you can, please consider keeping your pets inside. Preferably in a comfortable room, with comforting music playing or a fan running to drown out possible loud, unusual noises.

If you'll be having people come in and out of your house for the night, walk around your perimeter and make sure all fences and gates are secure. This way, if your pet manages to escape the house, they are confined to the yard.

If you pet has shown signs of extreme uneasiness around loud noises or crowds in the past, consider speaking with your vet about prescription meds that could help him out. Or, look into a Thunder Shirt, which can be purchased at most pet stores, or you can even make one using this example.

Last, but not least, make sure your pet has a correct ID. And, if it has a microchip, make sure it is current. This will make it easier to get you pet back if he/she escapes your home and yard during festivities.

Oh, and if you are having a house party, or out celebrating with friends, please don't drink and drive. Afterall, Fido can't bail you out in the morning, and we hear that the Wyoming Highway Patrol will be using social media to shame drunken driving offenders, #DoNotGetHashTaggedByWHP. Just to help you be safe, here are a few numbers of cabs in the area to reach out to tonight:

City Cab, 307.685.1000

DC Cab LLC, 307.299.8294

and, if you don't like to leave your car behind, consider contacting Camel Towing at 307.660.4002.

As you know, the FKF board held a event planning meeting in December to help us get some fresh ideas on fundraising for 2016. Volunteers Manda Peyton, Megan Taylor and Linda Tufvesson spent two hours with us on a Saturday and brought us some great ideas. They also stepped up and offered to Co-Chair the events/promotions that they suggested! On top of that, this dynamic trio has already received kudos earlier for their paw-some support! We are thrilled for the support of such dedicated volunteers. Keep up the great work ladies. We appreciate you!

The board has set an aggressive fundraising goal for 2016, which you'll be hearing more about next month. This goal includes our annual events like Holiday Portraits, Pooch Plunge and Pet-A-Palooza, as well as some fun new ideas we're excited to try such as a calendar, Pints for Pups/Trivia Night, Paws and Pies, Custom Pet Paintings, Summer Pet Portrait Session, and many more.

In December, Fur Kids Foundation had five families apply for assistance, and we were able to help three of those families—for a total of $299.97 given in aid. Below is a rundown of the cases we provided assistance to:

A New Year is almost upon us, which means the deadline to make your tax-deductible gift is almost here!

As we reflect back on this incredible year, we're so proud to work with generous supporters and volunteers like you. Since 2012, Fur Kids Foundation has helped more than more than 250 families and granted more than $35,000 in aid. All because of your support. ​In 2015, we helped more than 120 families and their pets stay healthy and happy...and together. We granted more than $14,000 in aid, helped six pets find their fur-ever home, and helped an abused dog in the Wright shelter get the medical attention she needed.

You helped us with Vader, the 3-month-old kitten who found himself in a painful situation. Vader’s mom left for a quick trip to the store and when she came home Vader had broke his back leg and it needed to be amputated. Because of your support, we were able to help this family with the cost of the surgery, and got Vader back to his mischievous self quickly.

You also helped us with Cedar, who had to have an emergency spay because she had endometriosis leading to pyometra, which put Cedar's life on the line. After a couple of visits to the vet, this family was facing some large medical bills and we were there to help. We are happy to report that Cedar is now recovering at home. We’ve been told that she's surrounded by her favorite toys in the photo with her sister Annah not far away.

Oh the holidays and all the joy they bring, right? There's shopping, visitors or traveling to see family and friends, decorations, calories (all those goodies), presents, and so much more! While this can be a lot of fun, it can also cause some stress and potentially pose some dangers to our beloved pets. So, since ​Christmas is just around the corner, Fur Kids Foundation wants to make sure that you're keeping your pets safe this holiday season. Please check out the following infographics and articles on holiday pet safety tips.

Created in November 2011, the Fur Kids Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides education and aid to promote the well-being of animals in Campbell County.

Your donation saves lives. It goes to work helping animals in Campbell County receive adequate veterinary care during a time when their family may not be able to afford it. Please contact the Foundation to learn more or donate now using PayPal.

Author

The Fur Kids Foundation blog is written by board member and Founder Felicia. If you have ideas that you would like to see published in the blog such as concerns about pet-focused topics in the community or a funny story, please contact the Foundation. Enjoy!